Thomas Cook plans to close 50 stores

Thomas Cook has said it is planning to close 50 stores as part of a review of its UK retail network. The proposed closures will take place by March 2018 and will affect a mix of Thomas Cook and Co-operative Travel branded stores. Thomas Cook said the stores affected are either close to other stores or are located where a fall in customers has hit profitability. Thomas Cook says 47% of its holidays have been booked in store in 2017. "We continually review our network of stores across the UK to make sure we're offering customers the best of Thomas Cook, and it is clear that to succeed we have to operate as a truly omni-channel business," said Thomas Cook UK's director of retail and customer experience, Kathryn Darbandi.